When it comes to comfort food that packs a punch, Hunan Tofu is one dish that never disappoints. If you’re a fan of tofu and bold, spicy flavors, you’re in for a treat. This dish, rooted in the rich and fiery Hunan cuisine of China, brings together the heat of chili peppers with the savory depth of dark soy sauce and black beans. It’s perfect for a cozy dinner tonight, especially when you’re craving something that’s both healthy and bursting with flavor.

But before we dive into this Hunan Tofu Recipe, let me share a quick story about the first time I tried Hunan-style tofu. I was at a local Chinese restaurant, scanning the menu for something new, something that would surprise my taste buds. I saw Hunan Tofu listed and thought, “Why not?” What I didn’t expect was how quickly it would become one of my favorite vegan recipes. The spicy tofu, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, paired with the rich sauce—it was love at first bite. Ever since then, I’ve been on a mission to perfect this dish at home, and now, I’m excited to share it with you.

What is Hunan Cuisine?

Hunan cuisine, also known as Xiang cuisine, hails from the Hunan province of China. It’s known for its bold, spicy flavors, often featuring generous use of chili peppers, garlic, and shallots. Unlike Sichuan cuisine, which is known for its numbing spiciness, Hunan food is more straightforwardly hot, with a deep, rich heat that lingers on your palate. This cuisine also emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients, making it a great choice for home cookers looking to create healthy, flavorful dishes.

Why You’ll Love This Hunan Tofu Recipe

If you’re a tofu lover, this recipe is about to become a staple in your kitchen. The extra firm tofu is pressed to remove excess water (half of the liquid), then fried to a perfect golden brown, creating a crispy exterior that soaks up all the delicious, spicy seasoning liquid. The sauce is a magical blend of dark soy sauce, black bean paste, sesame oil, and fresh ginger, with a kick from red chilies. Whether you’re new to tofu or a seasoned pro, this dish offers the best way to enjoy the savory flavors of tofu in a traditional, authentic Chinese style.

Ingredients for Hunan Tofu

Before we get into the cooking process, let’s gather all the ingredients you’ll need:

• 1 block of extra firm tofu (about 14 ounces), pressed and cut into cubes
• 2 tablespoons of oil (vegetable or peanut oil)
• 2 tablespoons of dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of black bean paste
• 1 teaspoon of cornstarch mixture (1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
• 2 red chili peppers, sliced
• 1 green pepper, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 3 green onions, chopped (separate the white and green parts)
• 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger, minced
• 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon of white pepper
• 1/2 cup of vegetable stock (or cups of stock)
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil

How to Prepare Hunan Tofu

Now that we have everything ready, let’s start cooking!

1. Press the Tofu

To get that perfect crispy texture, you need to press the tofu to remove the excess water. Use a tofu press if you have one, or place the tofu between two plates and weigh it down with something heavy (like a can or a skillet). Let it sit for about 20 minutes.

2. Fry the Tofu

Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu cubes. Fry them until they turn golden brown on all sides. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Once done, remove the tofu from the skillet and set it aside.

3. Make the Spicy Sauce

In the same skillet, add a little oil if needed. Toss in the fresh ginger and the white parts of the green onions. Sauté for about a minute until fragrant. Then, add the red chilies, green pepper, red bell pepper, and continue to stir fry for another 2-3 minutes.

Now, it’s time to add the sauce ingredients: dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, black bean paste, hoisin sauce, and rice vinegar. Stir well to combine, then add the vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

4. Thicken the Sauce

To thicken the sauce, pour in the cornstarch mixture. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens, which should only take a minute or two. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a little more stock to reach your desired consistency.

5. Combine and Serve

Add the fried tofu back into the skillet and gently toss to coat it in the spicy sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to allow the tofu to absorb the flavors. Finally, drizzle with sesame oil and garnish with the green parts of the green onions.

Serve your Hunan Tofu hot, ideally over white rice or with rice noodles. Enjoy the savory flavors of this dish as they meld together in every bite!

Nutritional Content

Here’s a quick look at the nutritional breakdown of this Hunan Tofu Recipe per serving (recipe serves 4):

• Calories: 280
• Total Fat: 15g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugars: 3g
• Protein: 15g
• Sodium: 680mg

Recipe Variations

One of the great things about Hunan-style tofu is its versatility. Here are a few variations you can try:

1. Vegetables

Feel free to add more fresh vegetables to your stir fry! Green beans, baby corn, bamboo shoots, snow peas, and shiitake mushrooms are all fantastic additions. They not only add more flavor but also boost the nutritional content of the dish.

2. Mushrooms

For a more umami-rich dish, try adding shiitake mushrooms or wood ear mushrooms. They bring a meaty texture that complements the tofu beautifully.

3. Tofu Types

While extra firm tofu is great for frying, you can also experiment with silken tofu or soft tofu for different results. These types of tofu will soak up the sauce more but may not hold their shape as well.

Explore other Tofu/Vegan recipes here:

Easy Chinese Claypot Tofu With Mushrooms (Vegan)

Vegan recipes

Cooking Tips

Prep Ahead:

To make things easier, you can press the tofu and chop the vegetables the night before. This way, you’ll only need to focus on cooking when it’s time to eat.

Adjust the Heat:

If you’re not a fan of very spicy food, you can reduce the number of red chilies or remove the seeds before cooking.

Use Fresh Ingredients:

The flavors of this dish really shine when you use fresh ginger, garlic, and vegetables. Avoid using pre-minced garlic or ginger if possible.

Printable Recipe Card

Hunan Tofu Recipe

This Hunan Tofu recipe is a flavorful and spicy vegan dish inspired by the bold flavors of Hunan cuisine. It features extra firm tofu that’s pressed, fried to a crispy golden brown, and tossed in a savory sauce made from dark soy sauce, black bean paste, red chilies, and fresh ginger. Paired with fresh vegetables like green peppers and red bell peppers, this dish is perfect over white rice or rice noodles. Quick to prepare and full of rich, spicy flavors, this recipe is a must-try for any tofu lover looking for a satisfying meal.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Chinese, Hunan

Servings 4 people

Calories 280 kcal

Equipment

• Tofu Press (or heavy objects like a skillet and plates to press the tofu)
• Large Nonstick Skillet (for frying the tofu and cooking the stir-fry)
• Sharp Knife (for chopping vegetables and tofu)
• Cutting Board
• Mixing Bowl (for the cornstarch mixture)
• Measuring Spoons (for measuring sauce ingredients)
• Spatula or Wooden Spoon (for stirring and tossing the tofu and vegetables)
• Tongs (optional, for flipping tofu while frying)
• Serving Bowls or Plates (for serving the final dish)

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 block of extra firm tofu about 14 ounces, pressed and cut into cubes
• 2 tablespoons of oil vegetable or peanut oil
• 2 tablespoons of dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of black bean paste
• 1 teaspoon of cornstarch mixture 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
• 2 red chili peppers sliced
• 1 green pepper sliced
• 1 red bell pepper sliced
• 3 green onions chopped (separate the white and green parts)
• 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger minced
• 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon of white pepper
• 1/2 cup of vegetable stock or cups of stock
• 1 teaspoon of sesame oil

Instructions

 

Press the Tofu

• To get that perfect crispy texture, you need to press the tofu to remove the excess water. Use a tofu press if you have one, or place the tofu between two plates and weigh it down with something heavy (like a can or a skillet). Let it sit for about 20 minutes.

Fry the Tofu

• Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the tofu cubes. Fry them until they turn golden brown on all sides. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Once done, remove the tofu from the skillet and set it aside.

Make the Spicy Sauce

• In the same skillet, add a little oil if needed. Toss in the fresh ginger and the white parts of the green onions. Sauté for about a minute until fragrant. Then, add the red chilies, green pepper, red bell pepper, and continue to stir fry for another 2-3 minutes.
• Now, it’s time to add the sauce ingredients: dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, black bean paste, hoisin sauce, and rice vinegar. Stir well to combine, then add the vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Thicken the Sauce

• To thicken the sauce, pour in the cornstarch mixture. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens, which should only take a minute or two. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a little more stock to reach your desired consistency.

Combine and Serve

• Add the fried tofu back into the skillet and gently toss to coat it in the spicy sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to allow the tofu to absorb the flavors. Finally, drizzle with sesame oil and garnish with the green parts of the green onions.
• Serve your Hunan Tofu hot, ideally over white rice or with rice noodles. Enjoy the savory flavors of this dish as they meld together in every bite!

Notes

Recipe Variations

One of the great things about Hunan-style tofu is its versatility. Here are a few variations you can try:

1. Vegetables

Feel free to add more fresh vegetables to your stir fry! Green beans, baby corn, bamboo shoots, snow peas, and shiitake mushrooms are all fantastic additions. They not only add more flavor but also boost the nutritional content of the dish.

2. Mushrooms

For a more umami-rich dish, try adding shiitake mushrooms or wood ear mushrooms. They bring a meaty texture that complements the tofu beautifully.

3. Tofu Types

While extra firm tofu is great for frying, you can also experiment with silken tofu or soft tofu for different results. These types of tofu will soak up the sauce more but may not hold their shape as well.

Cooking Tips

Prep Ahead:

To make things easier, you can press the tofu and chop the vegetables the night before. This way, you’ll only need to focus on cooking when it’s time to eat.

Adjust the Heat:

If you’re not a fan of very spicy food, you can reduce the number of red chilies or remove the seeds before cooking.

Use Fresh Ingredients:

The flavors of this dish really shine when you use fresh ginger, garlic, and vegetables. Avoid using pre-minced garlic or ginger if possible.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 15gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 680mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3g

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Final Thoughts

Making Hunan Tofu at home is not only easy but incredibly rewarding. This dish, with its spicy, savory sauce and perfectly cooked tofu, is a testament to the deliciousness of Hunan cuisine. Whether you’re a longtime fan of tofu or just discovering its potential, this recipe is a must-try. It’s also a great way to introduce friends and family to the wonders of vegan recipes that don’t skimp on flavor.

So, the next time you’re thinking about what to cook for dinner tonight, why not give this Hunan Tofu Recipe a try? Trust me, once you take that first bite, you’ll be hooked, just like I was.

FAQs

1. Can I make this Hunan Tofu Recipe less spicy?

Yes. If you’re sensitive to heat, simply reduce the number of red chilies or omit them altogether. You can also use milder chili peppers.

2. What’s the best tofu to use for this recipe?

Extra firm tofu works best because it holds up well during frying and soaks up the sauce without falling apart.

3. Can I add other proteins to this dish?

Yes! You can add tofu skin or a plant-based meat alternative for added texture and protein. These options will keep the dish vegan while enhancing its heartiness.

4. How do I store leftovers?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They should keep well for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop to maintain the tofu’s texture.

5. What can I serve with Hunan Tofu?

This dish pairs wonderfully with white rice, rice noodles, or even a side of steamed vegetables like green beans or snow peas.